Controlling or selecting mechanism for individual switches



March 16, 1954 ,M. DEN HERTOG ET AL CONTROLLING 0R SELECTING MECHANISM FOR INDIVIDUAL SWITCHES Filed Jan. 13,1951

2 Sheets-Sheet l i v mm m Inventors MART/NUS DEN HERTOG GEORGES x. LENS l A Home y March 1954 M. DEN HERTOG ETAL CONTROLLING OR SELECTING MECHANISM FOR INDIVIDUAL SWITCHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 13, 1951 Om a Inventors MART/NUS DEN HERTOG GEORGES X. LENS Attorney Patented Mar. 16, 1954 CONTROLLING OR SELECTING MECHANISM FOR INDIVIDUAL SWITCHES Martinus den Hertog and Georges Xavier Lens, Antwerp, Belgium, assignors to International Standard Electric Corporation, a corporation of Delaware New York, N. Y.,

Application January 13, 1951, Serial No. 205,918

6 Claims.

The present invention is related to individual switches whose construction and operation have been conceived in such a way that they are derived from a multiswitch as described for example in the copending patent application of G. X. Lens, filed March 24, 1950, and bearing Serial No. 151,593, now Patent No. 2,589,261.

The multi-switch mentioned'above is of the crossbar type and comprises a set of vertical bars and a set of horizontal bars. The displacement of one of these vertical bars causes the displacement of a clutch member which places itself in such a way that the displacement of one of the horizontal bars adjacent to said vertical bar produces the operation of a set of contacts designed to establish an electrical connection. It is obvious that the use of a plurality of vertical bars as well as a plurality of horizontal bars will permit the realization of a multi-switch, for example a multi-finder or a multi-selector such as provided in telecommunications, telesignalling, telecontrol or similar installations.

In an exchange using such multi-switches, certain electrical circuits may, however, require the use of individual switches.

It will easily be realized that if, in a multiswitch, the vertical bar which is selected and actuated determines, for example, an inlet, while the selection and the operation of a horizontal bar determines the outlet, this double selection will no longer be necessary for individual switches, for example, only one or two horizontal bars need be used for each individual switch.

It is to be noted that the selection and operation of the vertical and horizontal bars used in the multi-switch which is the object of the patent application mentioned above, can be made with the help of devices, such as e. g. those described in the copending patent applications of O. Brackc G. X. Lens, filed January 1'7, 1951, Serial No. 206,498, now Patent No. 2,653,486, and that of G. X. Lens filed September 6, 1950 and bearing Serial No. 183,445, now Patent No. 2,623,404. The first patent application mentioned immediately above is related to a mechanism which can, for example, be used for the selection and the operation of vertical bars, while the second is related to a mechanism which can, for example, be used for the selection and the operation of horizontal bars.

It will be evident that in the case of an individual switch, it will no longer be necessary to select the'horizontal bars and consequently, the mechanism which is nevertheless necessary for their operation can be constituted by any appropriate device using elements occupying a restricted volume.

On the other hand, if it is desired to use the structure and certain essential parts of the multiswitch in order to obtain a plurality of individual switches, it is obvious that each set of vertical bars pertaining to an individual switch will have to be controlled with the help of one of the mechanisms described in the first two patent applications mentioned above. These mechanisms having been designed for a rather considerable number of vertical bars and being particularly applicable to the control of vertical bars used in a multi-switch, take such an amount of space that the use of a plurality of these in order to control the various particular bars pertaining to various individual switches, would be opposed to the principle of obtaining individual switches from a multi-switch while benefitting from the advantages of the latter.

A characteristic of the invention resides in the subdivision of a multi-switch into a plurality of individual switches, in order to use some of the elements which are part of said multi-switch and to restrict the said plurality of individual switches in a volume equal to that occupied by the multiswitch.

Another of the characteristics of the invention resides in the subdivision of a multi-switch of the crossbar type comprising a first set of parallel bars which are intermeshed with the parallel bars of a second set of bars, perpendicular to the first, into a plurality of individual switches, each of which comprising one or two bars belonging to said first set and the said second set of parallel bars being replaced by a set of parallel selection levers and arranged perpendicularly to said first set of parallel bars.

Another characteristic of the invention resides in the fact that the said selection levers are operated by means of a plurality of code bars.

Another characteristic of the invention resides in the fact that each group of code bars controls the selection levers pertaining to one particular individual switch.

Another characteristic of the invention resides in the fact that the space between two horizontal bars pertaining to one individual switch is occupied by the said selection levers and the code bars associated therewith.

Another characteristic of the invention resides.

in the superposition of a plurality of individual switches including their horizontal bar or bars and the mechanisms associated therewith, the said selection. levers and their code bars then occupying the space which is allowed for the vertical bars in the case of a multi-switch.

Another characteristic of the invention resides in the use of a clutch member between each selection lever and the horizontal bar or bars, and which is normally under the control of said lever and which can be placed by the latter in a clutch position in such a way that the operation of the horizontal bar or bars associated with the said lever in a same individual switch, actuates a set of contacts designed :to establish an electrical connection.

Another characteristic of the inventionresides in the fact that the said clutch member is constituted by a ball.

Other characteristics and objects will become more apparent from the followingdescription of an embodiment, given as a non-limitative example, with reference to the appended drawings which represent:

Fig. 1, a plan view of a plurality of individual switches according to the invention and represented in the rest position;

Fig. 2, a cut-out side view of Fig. 1 showing clearly the various superposed individual switches;

Fig. 3, a cut-out side view of one individual switch, the latter being shown. with its clutch in engaged position.

The essential elements of the arrangements will be first of all briefly described.

Fig. 1 shows clearly a plan View of the individual switch located on top of a pi1ed-up arrangement comprisinga series of superposed individual switches maintained in a frame i (Fig. 2). Each individual switch such as Z, 2', etc. comprises two horizontal bars 3 and 3', only a part of which has beenshown. Further, the bar 3 has not been shown being identical with bar 3. These two bars have a profiled shape andare fixed inside longitudinal hollow members i and 4' closely following the shape of said bars. As shown clearly on Fig. 2, the bars such as 3 are on the one side provided with lateral slots such as 5 which are regularly spaced,.and on the other side, ,with apertures such as 15. The said apertures such as permit the insertion oi? an arm I of the :lever 8, a lever such as 3 corresponding to each aperture such as 6.

The longitudinal hollow members such as 4 are also provided with slots 9 in front of the slots 5 and with apertures Ii] in front of the apertures ,6. In this way, the arm 1' of .the lever 8 can be inserted through the two openings Hi and '6 and its forked end H .permits the insertion of a selectionlever such as 12 whose end l3 goes through the slots 9 and -5 and is located.

in the middle of the forkedend H.

The slots v5 permit the insertion of a clutch member which is here shown by a ball M resting upon the end 13 of the selection lever I12.

The latter is part of a group of levers all of which are identical and intermeshed, in order to limit the occupied volume, the said levers being combined with a series of bars which can be actuated in various code combinations, hereafter designated as code bars, I5, 16 l1, l8 and IS, the assembly forming a code bar selector such asdescribed in the copending patent application of G. X. Lens filed December 15, 1950,and hearing Serial No. 200,817., now Patent No. 2,636,393.

The lever 8 also comprises an arm 20 and can pivot around an axle 21 provided in a fixed part 22. The arm 20 is slightly bent in 23 and 24 in-isucha way that its end :25 is raised with respect to the central part of the lever 8. The end 25 of the arm 20 is engaged in a corresponding opening provided in a horizontal bar such as 26 which is perpendicular to the horizontal bars such as 3.

Considering now the operatiomof ithermechanism, the latter is divided into two portions: clutching and actuating.

Examining first of all the clutch operation, the latter is efiected with the help of a selection Llever, e.g. :lzgwhich comprises two arms Iii-l3 and 21, the latter being provided with two lugs 28 -and'2,8' at each'of its ends, the said lugs 28 and 1Z8'ibeingrrespedtively engaged in openings 29 and 29' provided in the vertical sides of two L- shaped parts 30 and 30'. As shown clearly on Fig. 2, these two L-shaped parts 30 and. 30 support a frame 3| having a cross section in the shapeof a U whose bottom part is provided with vertical faces such as 3.2 in which slots 33, 34, 35, 35 and 31 have been provided for guiding the code bars I5, .16, H, [Sand-t9. The "vertical sides 38 and .38 of the frame 3| arealso provided with slots permitting the .insertion of "the lugs 28 and 28 pertaining to the arm 21 of the selection lever l2. The two arms .of the lever are rigidly joined by the pieces 39 :and 39" which are located betweenthe various .code bars and the vertical sides of the -frame 3|. On the other hand, slots 43,40 and 41, 4.1 are respectively provided in the vertical sides of the L- shaped parts 38 and .30, and in the vertical. sides 38 and 38' of the frame I.

The upper part of the 'codeibars suchas 15 is also provided with slotsinsuch'a way, that by displacing certain 'code bars,;,it is 'pcssibleto bring a series of five slots underneath the central bent part 42 of thearm such as 13-13, pertaining to. the lever l2.

As shown onFig. '1, the .slots 43, M, "45 and lt, respectively provided in the code .bars 15, -I6, ll. and i8 are underneath the-bent Lpart 42 .of the lever 12. In this way, the displacement of the code bar 19 in the direction of the arrow .11 will bring the slot 41 underneath the bent .part '42 and thelever l2 will thuspivot in .the'direction of the arrow is (Fig. 2), and under the :action of the springs 48 and 48, the arm I'3il3 will be lowered until the bent part 42 reaches the bottom of i the slots 43, 44, 45, 46 and '41. This position is shown on Fig. 3 which represents the individual switch required for use.

The means necessary for the displacement of the code bars such as 11 9 have not been :shown, but

. it should be understood that any appropriate means such as for example electromagnets can be used; In this manner, it is seen that each code bar can occupy either .a .rest position .or a work.

position and it results therefrom that the number of combinations obtainable from five code bars is equal to 2 :32 and, .accordingly,*the maximumnumber of selection levers is also 32. It is obvious that if it is desirable "to operate a larger number 5 of selection levers, the number of code bars can easily be increased.

inside the hollow member 4, will always be maintained inside this hollow member in the clutch position, due tothe fact that the slot Bin the said hollow member is too narrowto permit its escape.

If the horizontal bar 3 is displaced, e. g. in the direction of the arrow f3 (Fig. 1), by the slot 5, the horizontal bar 3 will drive the ball I4 which in its turn, will cause the lever 8 to pivot in such a manner that the end 25 of its arm will be displaced in the clockwise direction of the arrow f4, thus displacing the horizontal bar 26 toward the left in the direction of the arrow f4. It is obvious that any appropriate device can be actuated by the displacement of the bar 26 causing, for example, the closure of electrical contacts. Such device has not been shown in order not to needlessly complicate the figures.

Similarly, it is obvious that one can, for example, use an electromagnet for the displacement of the horizontal bar 3. This has not been shown for the reasons given above.

It is also possible to use a device which permits the displacement of the horizontal bar 3, either in the direction of the arrow is or else in the direction of the arrow f's. In the latter case, the lever 8 will pivot in such a manner that the bar 26 will be driven in the direction of the arrow f'4 and will thereby be able to actuate another set of contacts.

It is also seen that during the displacement of the selection lever 12, a ball [4' located in the horizontal bar 3', is also placed in a clutch position and the displacement of the said bar 3' either in the direction of the arrow 1; or in the direction of the arrow f':;, can cause the operation of other sets of contacts with the help of bars such as 26 (not shown) corresponding with the horizontal bar 3'.

The arrangement described above which utillzes only simple elements which occupy a restricted volume and which can be grouped according to the mechanical principles used for a multi-switch, nevertheless permits the operation of an appreciable number of sets of contacts which, in the example described above, amounts to 32x2 2:128.

While the principles of this invention have been described above in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is only made by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. Controlling or selecting mechanism such as used for multi-switches of the cross-bar type comprising a first set of spaced parallel movable members adapted to be selectively actuated, a.

second set of spaced parallel movable members intermeshed with the members of said first set and perpendicular thereto, a pair of third movable members, one disposed on each side of said first set members and parallel therewith, said pair of members adapted to be selectively actuated, a plurality of movable utilization devices, at least one corresponding to each of the members of said second set, a plurality of separate clutch means, corresponding in number to each of the members of said second set and each of said devices, each adapted to selectively couple its associated device with one of said third members, means associated with each of the members of said second set to actuate its corresponding clutch means, means associated with the members of said first set for selectively actuating the members of said second set, the members of said pair adapted to cause actuation of a selected one of said devices when the clutch means corre sponding to said device has coupled said device to a member of said pair.

2. Controlling or selecting mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said clutch means comprises an arm having a forked or similarly shaped end, a movable captive element adapted to be selectively interposed in the forked end of said arm, said element contained within a profiled portion of members of said pair, whereby said forked arm is mechanically coupled to said profiled portion.

3. Controlling or selecting mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said actuating means associated with the members of said second set comprises an extension arm, adapted to normally nest within the forked end of said arm and to exclude said captive element from being interposed within the forked end of said arm.

4. Controlling or selecting mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein said actuating means is adapted to move in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the members of said first set and said pair of members.

5. Controlling or selecting mechanism such as used for multi-switches of the cross-bar type comprising a first set of spaced, parallel movable members adapted to be selectively actuated, a second set of spaced, parallel movable members intermeshed with the members of said first set and perpendicular thereto, a pair of third movable members, one disposed on each side of said first set of members and parallel therewith, each having a plurality of profiled portions each portion corresponding to a difierent one of the members of said second set, said pair of members adapted to be selectively actuated, a plurality of movable utilization devices, at least two for each of the members of said second set, a plurality of separate clutch means, one for each of said devices, each adapted to selectively couple its associated device with one of said third members, each of said clutch means comprising an arm having a forked or similarly shaped end, a movable captive element adpated to be selectively interposed in the forked end of said arm, said element contained within a profiled portion of one said pair of members, a pair of extension arms associated with each of the members of said second set, each extension extending from opposite ends of members of said second set and adapted to normally nest within the forked ends of the arms of said clutch means, each of the extension arms of members of said second set adapted to move in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the members of said first set and said pair of members, and means associated with each of the members of said first set for selectively actuating the members of said second set, the members of said pair adapted to cause actuation of a selected one of said devices when the clutch means corresponding to said device has coupled said device to a member of said pair.

6. Controlling or selecting mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein said captive element comprises a ball.

MARTINUS DEN HERTOG. GEORGES XAVIER LENS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,361,246 Stibitz Oct. 24, 1944 2,364,446 Hubbard Dec. 5, 1944 2,476,789 Wiberg July 19, 1949 2,528,161 Miloche Oct. 31, 1950 2,535,769 Wicks Dec. 26, 1950 2,554,106 Knos May 22. 1951 

